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Victoria records no coronavirus cases as federal parliament returns – politics live | Victoria records no coronavirus cases as federal parliament returns – politics live |
(32 minutes later) | |
Lockdown in Melbourne extended as authorities monitor outbreak in city’s north, and federal parliament resumes with the head of Treasury to face questions at Senate estimates. Follow all the latest updates | Lockdown in Melbourne extended as authorities monitor outbreak in city’s north, and federal parliament resumes with the head of Treasury to face questions at Senate estimates. Follow all the latest updates |
Morning all. Steven Kennedy, the secretary of Treasury, is appearing at Senate estimates this morning. | |
“The pandemic is far from over,” Kennedy says in his opening address, noting that continued vigilance will be required to ensure Australia meets the challenges of the crisis. | |
The pandemic has led to a profound global economic shock, he says. Kennedy notes the second wave of infections in many countries. | |
Of the current recession Kennedy notes it is a “truly novel economic shock”. GDP in Australia contracted by record percentage in the last quarter. | |
Effective unemployment peaked at 15%. Kennedy says the economy is, however, rebounding. | |
He says there’s a two-speed economy (not his words, but that’s what he’s describing) – with some states experiencing near normal conditions and Victoria still in lockdown. | |
Kennedy notes that higher income households in the main experienced no significant change in their fortunes in the opening months of the pandemic, whereas lower income households experienced a 20% increase in income (presumably due to the income support through jobkeeper and jobseeker). | |
He says the government has delivered $257bn in direct support through the crisis. Kennedy says the Treasury forecasts unemployment to have a six in front of it by 2022, but he says the lessons of previous recessions is that labour markets can take longer to recover. | |
He says the pandemic is reshaping the global economy. Some businesses will close and never reopen. Some jobs will be lost permanently. Many transactions will move online. | |
Kennedy acknowledges debt is high in Australia now but he says the environment of low borrowing costs means there is more headroom for the government to fund another round of fiscal stimulus should that be required – Kennedy characterises this as “additional targeted and temporary fiscal support measures to be adopted, should they be required”. | |
Over in health estimates, the Covidsafe app is getting a workout, as predicted: | |
Here is Daniel Crennan’s statement: | |
The regulator’s deputy has resigned after a review into his moving costs. | |
Daniel Crennan says he was intending to retire in July 2021 but “in the current circumstances, I have decided that it is in the best interests of Asic for me to resign now”. | |
We’ll have some more on this. | |
The good people at About the House have the day’s Reps’ events all mapped out for you. | |
Not sure where they would have gone, while in lockdown, so perhaps they just don’t want Tim in their bubble? | Not sure where they would have gone, while in lockdown, so perhaps they just don’t want Tim in their bubble? |
(The Melbourne MP Tim Smith is again calling a Sydney radio station to make his point, where he might reach “fans” but not voters.) | |
Meanwhile, another of 2020’s crossover events is continuing along nicely: | Meanwhile, another of 2020’s crossover events is continuing along nicely: |
Anthony Albanese also called into Sydney radio 2GB this morning. | Anthony Albanese also called into Sydney radio 2GB this morning. |
He was asked about the Kevin Rudd-led push for a royal commission into the Murdoch-owned media. He said a lot of words, without really saying whether or not he supported it: | |
Jim Chalmers went on the front foot this morning. | Jim Chalmers went on the front foot this morning. |
Here is some of what he had to say at doors: | Here is some of what he had to say at doors: |
This is also excellent news – so far all the tests completed on those potentially linked to the northern Melbourne cluster have come back negative. | This is also excellent news – so far all the tests completed on those potentially linked to the northern Melbourne cluster have come back negative. |
From DHHS: | From DHHS: |
Nearly 15,000 tests since last Tuesday (October 20) are providing the best possible insight into the movement of coronavirus in the northern metropolitan suburbs. | Nearly 15,000 tests since last Tuesday (October 20) are providing the best possible insight into the movement of coronavirus in the northern metropolitan suburbs. |
Victoria’s commander of testing and community engagement Jeroen Weimar said in addition there were no new cases linked to the northern metropolitan outbreak. | Victoria’s commander of testing and community engagement Jeroen Weimar said in addition there were no new cases linked to the northern metropolitan outbreak. |
“This is one of the best outcomes we could hope to see, but the only reason we’re able to see it is because such a large number of people across the northern suburbs have taken the time since this outbreak was first identified to get tested,” Mr Weimar said. | “This is one of the best outcomes we could hope to see, but the only reason we’re able to see it is because such a large number of people across the northern suburbs have taken the time since this outbreak was first identified to get tested,” Mr Weimar said. |
“We have results for the 2,100 people who got tested yesterday and there are hundreds more samples going through the labs over the course of the day. Their commitment is a massive contribution to identifying what we hope are the very few remaining cases of Covid-19 in Melbourne. | “We have results for the 2,100 people who got tested yesterday and there are hundreds more samples going through the labs over the course of the day. Their commitment is a massive contribution to identifying what we hope are the very few remaining cases of Covid-19 in Melbourne. |
“Testing continued into the evening last night and we expect to see those results come through today. Testing in these five communities will continue to be a focus.” | “Testing continued into the evening last night and we expect to see those results come through today. Testing in these five communities will continue to be a focus.” |
Anthony Albanese’s team had this ready to go. | |